Growing up, Swagger was enamored with sports-entertainment greats Danny Hodge and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, both of whom would personally help the Superstar on his career path. First becoming involved in competition at age five and attending a high school that boasted several state wrestling championships, he quickly developed into an outstanding amateur grappler, becoming a two-time high school heavyweight state champion. In true American fashion, he earned a full scholarship to a Division I school in both wrestling and football.